Mines Golden Guarantee
Guaranteed Admission
for Qualifying Colorado Students
If you’re a Colorado resident graduating from a Colorado high school, the Mines Golden Guarantee gives you a clear pathway to guaranteed admission at Colorado School of Mines.
Beginning with students entering Mines in Fall 2027, qualifying Colorado students who apply by the Nov. 1 priority application deadline and meet the academic requirements below will receive:
- Guaranteed admission to Colorado School of Mines
- A minimum $2,000 per year merit scholarship
The Mines Golden Guarantee is the first statewide, university-wide admission guarantee offered by a public R1 research institution in Colorado.
Do You Qualify for the Mines Golden Guarantee?
If you meet all Mines Golden Guarantee eligibility requirements and apply by Nov. 1, you’ll receive guaranteed admission to Colorado School of Mines. You’ll also receive a minimum $2,000 per year merit scholarship.
Be a Colorado Resident
You must be:
- A Colorado resident graduating from a Colorado high school
- Applying to begin undergraduate studies at Mines in Fall 2027 or later
Apply By Nov. 1
- Submit your Mines application by the Nov. 1 priority application deadline.
- Applying by the priority application deadline is nonbinding, so receiving an admission decision does not require you to commit to Mines. You’ll still have until May 1 to make your college decision.
Meet One of These Academic Requirements
- Option 1: 3.8+ unweighted GPA
- Option 2: 3.6+ unweighted GPA plus a minimum 1420 SAT or 32 ACT composite
Complete Required Coursework
- No grades below a B- in any math or science course
- Successfully completed pre-calculus or trigonometry at minimum
- Completed three years of lab-based science, including chemistry and/or physics
Don’t Meet Every Requirement? Still Apply.
The guaranteed admission criteria are a benchmark for guaranteed admission, not a barrier to admission.
Mines uses a comprehensive holistic review process for students who do not meet every Mines Golden Guarantee requirement. Our Admissions team considers your complete academic record and personal context, not just a single GPA, test score or course.
In fact, more than one third of Colorado students admitted to Mines for Fall 2026 did not meet at least one of the Mines Golden Guarantee benchmarks.
So if Mines feels like the right place for you, we strongly encourage you to apply.
You do not need to qualify for the Mines Golden Guarantee to be admitted to Mines.
You’ve Worked Hard. Know Where You Stand.
The Mines Golden Guarantee gives high-achieving Colorado students greater clarity and confidence in the college search.
If you’ve challenged yourself academically, built a strong foundation in math and science and are ready for the rigor of a Mines education, you may already be on your way to becoming an Oredigger.
Qualifying students can earn guaranteed admission to one of the nation’s premier engineering and applied science universities, while staying close to home and preparing for careers that help shape Colorado’s future.
Keeping Colorado Talent in Colorado
The Mines Golden Guarantee gives qualifying Colorado students a clear path to a world-class STEM education close to home, while helping strengthen Colorado’s future workforce.
“We want Colorado families to know that if their high school students work hard, challenge themselves, demonstrate they are ready and have an interest in engineering and applied sciences, their admission to Mines is guaranteed. We know these students will be successful at Mines, and we want to help keep top talent in Colorado.”
Paul C. Johnson
President, Colorado School of Mines
Ready to Become an Oredigger?
If Mines is on your college list, don’t wait.
Submit your application by Nov. 1 to be considered for the Mines Golden Guarantee and other opportunities available to priority applicants.
Building on Our Colorado Partnerships
The Mines Golden Guarantee builds on successful guaranteed admission partnerships Mines has established with Colorado school districts, including Jeffco Public Schools, DSST Public Schools and District 51.
Those partnerships will continue as part of Mines’ commitment to creating strong pathways from Colorado high schools to Mines.
Students attending designated partner schools may also qualify for additional benefits. The Mines Golden Guarantee expands that same spirit of clarity and opportunity statewide, giving qualified students from any Colorado high school a clear pathway to Mines.
Attend a Mines partner school?
You may qualify for additional benefits through one of our existing school partnership pathways.
Why Mines?
At Mines, you’ll join a community built for students who love solving problems, building things and using STEM to make an impact.
Colorado School of Mines is one of the nation’s premier engineering and applied science universities and is ranked among the top 40 public universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.
A Mines education combines rigorous academics with hands-on learning, strong industry connections and exceptional career outcomes. More than 1,250 employers actively recruit Mines graduates each year, giving students direct access to opportunities in Colorado and around the world.
The value of a Mines degree continues long after graduation. Mines ranks among the top three public universities in the nation for 40-year return on investment, according to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. At Mines, STEM talent develops into character-driven leadership, with career readiness accelerated through hands-on experiences, industry connections and an entrepreneurial mindset. Those skills help graduates create value from day one and continue building on it throughout their careers.
Whether you’re interested in engineering, computing, robotics, aerospace, quantum, energy, applied science or another STEM field, Mines gives you the opportunity to learn alongside students who share your curiosity and drive.